LONDON: As an ode to the McLaren F1 GTR’s success and domination at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, during its inaugural year of participation, comes 50 units of the McLaren 650S – each complete with a Le Mans badge.
During the supercar maker’s participation in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1995, it saw five of its F1 GTR race cars cross the line in first, third, fourth, fifth and thirteenth.
Soon after, and to celebrate such a feat, five special edition McLaren F1 LM (Le Mans) were commissioned – one for each of the cars that finished.
It’s been 20 year’s and McLaren has decided to commemorate their 1995 success with 50 special edition 650S Le Mans cars ‘done up’ by the boys at the McLaren Special Operations (MSO) division.
The styling of the McLaren 650S Le Mans edition was inspired by and tweaked in consultation with the original McLaren F1 designer – Peter Stevens, and the race-winning chassis #01R McLaren F1 GTR.
Such tweaks include the roof-mounted snorkel air intake, which seems to “enhance (the) aural drama within the cabin” while channelling air into the unaltered 3.8L twin-turbo V8 with 641bhp / 678Nm, 0-100kph in 3.0sec and a top speed of 329kph.
Directly above the wheel arches that house the 19-inch front wheels (20-inch for the rear) are flaps/louvres that help dissipate heat away from the carbon ceramic brakes with orange callipers via venturi-effect while creating additional front downforce too.
The car gets fitted with carbon fibre parts that include the front splitter and rear bumper with MSO coming up with special extended side blades and a rear diffuser – all this while being painted only in metallic Sarthe (capital of Le Mans, France) Grey.
The cabin is practically upholstered in black leather and Alcantara with splashes of the Mclaren’s orange found on the sports seats’ backrest with Le Mans stitched in white into the headrest.
While a standard 650S Coupe costs from £195,000 (RM1.1mil), each McLaren 650S Le Mans will cost £244,500 (RM1.4mil), with deliveries due to commence by the middle of the year.
While a standard 650S Coupe costs from £195,000 (RM1.1mil), each McLaren 650S Le Mans will cost £244,500 (RM1.4mil), with deliveries due to commence by the middle of the year.
In addition, new owners of the McLaren 650S Le Mans will also receive an exclusive invitation for (plus a guest) to join McLaren at a 20th anniversary celebration of the famous victory at the historic Le Mans circuit…on the house.
Keyword: McLaren 650S Le Mans announced